Machine for pressing slugs into shapes



Aug. l2, 1969 l.. B. SMITH MACHINE FOR PRESSING SLUGS INTO SHAPES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1967 INVENTOR LAFAYTT av Aug. l2, 1969 B. SMITH MACHINE FOR PRESSING SLUGS INTO SHAPES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 3, 1967 i. lNVEN-ro Amwrf www@ Aug. 12, 1969 L. B. sMlTH 3,460,369

MACHINE FOR PESSING SLUGS INTO SHAPES Filed April 3, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG 4 FIG.3

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Aug. 12, 1969 L. B. SMITH 3,460,369

MACHINE FOR PRESSING SLUGS INTO SHAPES Filed April 3, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet v4.

INVENTOR Lnmysrrr -H .TM/7W SYM f/vww MMM/Off United States Patent O 3,460,369 MACHINE FOR PRESSING SLUGS INTO SHAPES Lafayette B. Smith, Wattsburg, Pa., assignor to The Electric Materials Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 627,976 Int. Cl. B21jI1/00, 5/12; B21d 53/20 U.S. Cl. 72-4ll4 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to machines and, more particularly, to machines pressing slugs of metal into the shape of spheres or the like.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an improved machine which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pressing machine and die combination.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination feeding mechanism, press, and dies.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that change may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end view of the machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the machine according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the slug loader with the loader arm in retracted position;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the loader shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the loader arm extended;

FIG, 6 is an enlarged top view of the loader and slug insert cylinder; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the loader arm and slug insert cylinder shown in FIG. 6.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the machine disclosed is made up basically of a frame 10 supported on a base 13. A cylinder 36 is fixed to the frame 10 and a double acting piston is slidably disposed in the cylinder. The piston has two piston rods 38 fixed to it. One of the piston rods extending from each end of it. The piston rods are slidably received in the seals 49. Movable dies 43 and 45 are fixed to the ends of the piston rods 38. These movable dies 43 and 45 cooperate with fixed dies 42 and 44, one of which is fixed to the machine frame at each end of the piston rod. 'I'he piston 35 is provided with a suitable piston ring 37.

The piston 35 is actuated by hydraulic fluid supplied by pump 11 supported on mount 23 and driven by motor 22. The motor mount 23 is attached to the machine frame. Fluid from the pump 11 is connected to the cylinder 36 by the lines 12 and 17.

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A suitable fluid source is provided for actuating the feed mechanism. A power system is provided to actuate the loader conveyor for conveying work to the dies.

It will be noted that the piston rods 38 are of substantlal size and they slidingly engage the inside of the bore 1n the cylinder heads 33 and 34. Thus, the sole guide for the piston rods is the bearing surface in the heads, and the dies 43 and 45 on the ends of the piston rods are dlrected toward and away from the fixed dies 42 and 44 are the piston 35 reciprocates, carrying with it the dies 45 and 43.

.The slug loader shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 has a frame wlth two horizontal members 76 and 77 and two vertical members 78 and 79 rigidly attached together. The slug msert cylinder 80 is fixed between the members 78 and 79 by means of rods 81. The loader arm 15 (21) is generally C-shaped at 15 (21) and supported on bearing 82 which slides on the upper horizontal member 76. The loader arm 15 (21) has the spring loaded jaws 75 which each have a concave jaw surface 83 into which a slug may be received.

The loader arm 15 (21) has a laterally extending bracket which supports the arm 70 and a laterally extending track 71 is fixed to the frame and it carries the slug insert cyllnder 73. The slug insert cylinder 73 has a slug insert ram 72 fixed to its piston rod.

The slug loader arm 15 (21) advances the slug between the die halves 42 or 45 (and 43 or 44). The arm 70 is attached to the slug loader 15 (21). This pushes the next slug from the slug chute 27 or 28 onto track 71.

When the slug loader 15 (21) is fully extended, the slug insert ram 72 is advanced by the slug insert cylinder 73 which pushes the next slug along the track 71 through the opening between the jaws in the loader arm 15 (21).

The slug inserter ram 72 holds the slug against the fixed stop 85 while the loader 15 (21) retracts. As the loader arm retracts, the spring loaded jaws 75 of the loader snap over the next slug and hold it for the next feed cycle. The slug insert ram 72 then retracts.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be under stood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A machine for pressing metal articles comprising:

a frame,

a first die and a second die spaced from each other and supported on said machine,

said first die having a first cavity,

said second die having a second cavity therein facing said first die,

a third die and a fourth die fixed together,

said third die having a third cavity therein facing said first die,

said fourth die having a fourth cavity therein facing said second cavity,

means to reciprocate said third die and said fourth die in a first direction to bring said third die to a position adjacent said first die and to reciprocate said third die and said fourth die in a second direction to bring said third die away from said first die and to move said fourth die to a position adjacent said first die,

and means to feed slugs of material intermittently to said cavities whereby said slugs are received in said cavities and are pressed to a predetermined shape in said first cavity and said third cavity and in said fourth cavity and said second cavity,

said means to feed said slugs into said machine comprises a source of said slugs disposed above said machine,

a first tube leading from said source to said first die,

a second tube leading from said source to said second die,

and means to move said slugs from said source into said irst tube and into said second tube.

2. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein:

said tubes extend from above said machine outwardly and downwardly and then extend inwardly toward the center of said machine.

3. A machine for pressing articles of manufacture into predetermined shape comprising:

a frame,

first die half and a second die half fixed to said frame in spaced relation to each other,

a double acting cylinder between said die halves,

a piston reciprocably supported in said cylinder having7 a piston rod extending from each end of said cylinder,

a third die half fixed to the end of said piston rod adjacent said first die half,

a fourth die half fixed to said piston rod adjacent said second die half,

means on said machine for loading slugs in said first and said third die half and to said second and fourth die half to be pressed into shape by said die halves,

said loader means comprising a loader arm,

spaced jaws on said loader arm,

resilient means urging said jaws toward each other,

means on said jaws to receive a slug therebetween,

feeder means for feeding said slugs to a position adjacent said die halves,

and means to move said jaws to carry said slugs from said feeding means to said die halves.

4. The machine recited in claim 3 wherein:

said feeding means comprises a first track adajcent said first die half and a second track adjacent said second die half,

first inserted means adjacent said first track and second inserted means adjacent said second half,

each said inserter means being adapted to move a said slug along said first track toward said jaws,

and stop means,

said inserter means being adapted to hold a said slug in position against said stop means,

each of said jaws having a slug receiving portion thereon being adapted to be moved toward a said slug and to be moved outward by said slug whereby,

said slug is moved into said slug receiving portion and said jaws are thereby moved apart to receive said slug with said slug in clamping relation with a said slug.

5. The machine recited in claim 4 wherein:

each said inserter means comprises a hydraulic cylinder operating generally at right angles to the path of movement of said jaws.

6. The machine recited in claim 5 wherein:

said feeding means comprises a first tube adapted t0 feed slugs to said first track,

a second tube adapted to feed slugs to said second track,

and conveyor means for delivering slugs to said tubes.

7. The machine recited in claim 3 wherein:

said jaws each have a slug receiving portion and each jaw has an inclined portion diverging toward said slug receiving portion, and said slugs engage said inclined surface urging said jaws apart.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,867,581 7/1932 Marietta 72-404 RONALD D. GREFE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

